The decision of the Taoiseach and the Government to ignore the views of the Irish people, to set aside the principles of our Constitution, and to facilitate at Shannon one of the greatest war machines the world has ever seen, can only be described as outrageous, the former Mayor of Sligo, Cllr Declan Bree, said when he addressed the Irish Anti-War Movement’s demonstration at Citywest, Dublin, at the weekend.  

Other speakers at the demonstration included: Independent Senator David Norris, Socialist Party T.D. Joe Higgins and the artist Robert Ballagh.

Cllr Bree said “the Governments decision to allow the U.S. military to use Shannon, represents a shameful abandonment not just of Irish neutrality but of any commitment to the principles of international law.

“The great majority of the Irish people opposed the war in Iraq.   And in this context we have reason to be concerned about what is happening here in Ireland, in Shannon, particularly given the fact that the number of US troops using the airport has more than doubled in recent years – clear evidence that there is little sign of an end to the illegal occupation and that the conflict itself is escalating.” said Cllr Bree.

“Last years figures showing that over 300,000 US troops passed through Shannon Airport in 2005 is shameful.

“And the ongoing failure of An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the Irish government to take any steps to inspect US aircraft using Shannon is difficult to understand, given the mounting evidence of the illegal transport of prisoners by CIA-operated planes.

“It is very clear that the Irish state is not simply obliged by national and international law not to engage in torture but also has positive obligations to ensure that torture is not facilitated.

“Extraordinary rendition lies outside international law.  Extraordinary rendition is a CIA invention, a US extrajudicial procedure which involves the sending of untried suspects to countries other than the United States for imprisonment and interrogation, thereby avoiding US laws.” Cllr Bree said.

“EU and media reports describe suspects being arrested, kidnapped, blindfolded, shackled, and sedated and transported by private jet or other means to the destination country.

“Essentially what the US government is saying is that the rules of international law only belong to certain countries, while the United States is above the law and can act with impunity outside international law, even if it has ratified that law.  Such an attitude clearly designates the United States of America as a rogue state—a state that has no hesitation in promoting disappearances, illegal detention, and torture.

“To date the Irish government has not carried out an inspection of one single plane in Shannon, planes that have the same registration numbers as those which snatched and kidnapped people and removed them to centres of detention and torture.
   
“In fact the Minister for Transport has actually acknowledged the fact that N379P, a Gulf Stream executive jet, landed at Shannon Airport fifteen times under two registration numbers. This aircraft was known as the “Guantánamo Bay Express” because of the frequency of its visits to the US concentration camp at Guantánamo.

“Yet the Irish government has never sought information why these very aeroplanes leased by the CIA and working in clear breach of international law were landing in Shannon.

“The Taoiseach and the government tell us that it has received diplomatic assurances from the US administration to the effect that its planes which land in Shannon are not used for extraordinary rendition.

“However it is not simply not good enough for the Taoiseach to say we have received assurances from the US government that nothing untoward is going on, and “we must accept that.”   The reality is that the US government has a record of untruths and deceit on these matters.  It is my view that the Governments refusal to inspect U.S. plans using Shannon has less to do with confidence in the assurances they have received and much more to do with fear of what they might find if inspections were undertaken.” Cllr Bree said.

“Given the use of Shannon by CIA aeroplanes and given the numbers of US troops using Shannon, and in the context of an immoral and unjust war, it is clear that the Irish government is complicit with US state terrorism and breaches of international law, and for this it stands condemned.” said Cllr Bree.